The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday bypassed at least 15 Cabinet secretaries and two commissioners that were appointed by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.
According to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, the following officials whose ad interim appointments were bypassed are:
- Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles
- Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla
- Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno
- Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar
- Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Enrile Uy
- Migrant Workers Secretary Maria Susana Ople
- Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan
- Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
- Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo
- Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual
- Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista
- National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan
- Commission on Audit Chairman Jose Calida
The nomination of Nelson Java Celis as commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was likewise bypassed.
Zubiri's list includes the appointment of Victor Rodriguez as Executive Secretary but it can be recalled that he has already resigned from the post. He was replaced by former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, who took his oath before the President on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the Malacanang.
According to Zubiri, who serves as CA chairperson, they failed to tackle the appointments of the 15 due to a "lack of material time." The first regular session of Congress is set to pause from Oct. 1 to Nov. 6.
"There was a lack of material time. Minus two secretaries na kanina at natapos na kami sa CA plenary at 5pm which ate into our Senate session at 3 p.m. If we pursued Sec. Tulfo and Bonoan, we would have finished at 7 p.m. and would have started the Senate session at 7:30 pa. Hindi pwede yan as we had to ratify two important bicam reports na magiging batas na. We cannot also sacrifice our work in the Senate," he said.
Zubiri added that the 15 bypassed officials would have to seek reappointment from Marcos.
"All the Secretaries... who have not been confirmed will have to seek a reappointment by the President as they would all be considered bypassed," Zubiri said.
The CA was able to approve 11 appointees since it reconvened this 19th Congress, including Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla, Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, and Agrarian Secretary Conrado Estrella III, among others.
